Primary Teacher UK

RSPCA Lessons and resources

The RSPCA have a large collection of links and resources for the KS1/2 curriculum including role plays and debates. Their interactive whiteboard resources called Animals and Us is fun and in Welsh as well as English. There is also advice on how the Animal Welfare Act 2006 affects classroom pets, visitors with animals and school trips.

Thanks to ICT Teachers for pointing out this link to me.

Link: http://www.rspca.org.uk/

Arts on the Move

Arts on the move has a collections of playscripts, drama resource books, drama workshops online and on CD ROM, a primary School drama policy and a wide range of FREE information, including drama games, monologues, ideas for building character, drama methods - and much more!

There is also a very useful directory of Suppliers, Services and Specialists - from face painters to costume suppliers - a one-stop-shop for all your creative needs. The site is run by teachers for teachers so have a look and see if there is anything relevant for you.

Link: http://www.artsonthemove.co.uk/index.php

www.just-teaching.com

www.just-teaching.com has now been running for a few years - recently however the site has been redesigned and is adding (almost daily) new free resources to download. You can find out more information about the author of the site on the blog, what he does and why I just-teaching.com is running from the website.

Link: www.just-teaching.com

Sparklebox - For free!

Sparklebox, which I first announced on this site when it started is one of the best, high quality resource sites on web for foundation stage, keystage 1 and more recently keystage 2. With quality however comes cost, and Sparklebox has been charging for some of their resources since starting. All that changed yesterday.

From the 1st June every resource (and there are 1000's) on the Sparklebox website has become free of charge.

No matter what year you teach, visit the Sparklebox website and you are bound to find something you can use in your classroom.

All I can say is - ICT co-ordinators, make sure that you stock up on coloured inks for your printers!

Link: Sparklebox
Link: Sparklebox 2

Printable Papers

Ever wanted a certain type of graph / design paper and it's just not available in school? Print it yourself from the Printable Paper website. Or even design your own graph paper to print out!

Want to print something else out - maybe some printable paper rulers? Or maybe a printable decimeter box, or simple graph paper, or a How Big Are Things? Cube?

Any other suggestions?

On the BBC Website

Breathing Places has launched its second Do One Thing activity for schools. We're encouraging all primary and middle schools in the UK to sign up for free, whether they're urban, suburban or rural. Schools that register will receive a pack containing teacher's notes, cross-curricular links and resources to complete a simple nature-based activity. Each term (until winter term 09), a new activity and resources will be made available to download. If you're interested in finding out how your school can Do One Thing for biodiversity while learning about the wildlife around you, visit the Breathing Places website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/schools/

Gut Instinct: Hosted by Viral Vinnie, Gut Instinct is a multiplayer, stomach-turning quizathon covering English, Maths and Science. Compete against your classmates and players from across the UK. How far up the leader board will you climb? http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/games/gut_instinct/

Sesame Tree Online: The Sesame Tree website has been produced to accompany and complement the new television series. Reflecting the colourful world of Potto and Hilda, the site offers clips from the television series, as well as interactive discovery games designed for 3-6 year olds which will help them develop thinking and decision-making skills. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ni/schools/sesametree/

Skara Brae: A new feature from BBC Scotland: explore the world of Skara Brae past and present, and find out how archaeology is used to see what life could have been like five thousand years ago. http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/primary/skarabrae/

The 20 most useful websites for children and families

The Telegraph has put together a list of the 20 most useful websites for children and families. "From CBeebies to a search engine designed for children, from brilliant cartoons to fascinating facts, we compile the finest websites for children and families and a few that their parents might enjoy as well

With ever more websites for children appearing, we have chosen the best ones for entertainment, including cartoons and games as well as the most informative. There are also social networking sites for teenagers, a search engine that children can use safely and a homework reference site."

Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/main.jhtml?xml=/education/2008/04/29/sv_familywebsites.xml

Sparklebox set up school accounts

Sparklebox have introduced membership for schools allowing you to download and order products on credit. It works by your school applying for a Credit Account with SparkleBox. You are then invoiced monthly for orders placed - download orders will be sent through by email to be downloaded at school, and CDs and books are sent by post as normal.

If your school is interested, take a look at www.sparklebox.co.uk/schools/ and click on the 'More info' button beneath 'Set up a School Account'.

Don't forget with KS2 resources now available there will be some big bills to be paid! :)

24 Hours in pictures

24 Hours in Pictures is a great resource from the Guardian. It is what it says - a selection of high quality pictures from around the world. The uses in class could be endless as well as being rather stunning just to look at!

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/series/24hoursinpictures

Teachers' TV - Summer Term

Teachers TV has unveiled its schedule for the first half of Summer Term including new commissions and some powerful documentaries from the UK and around the world. As with previous terms, the schedule is organised around themed weeks which bring together insightful and innovative programming, supported by specific high-quality CPD resources.

The term starts with ‘School Improvement’ a fortnight of programmes that consider how pupils and those in the educational workforce can work together to raise standards. With a highlight including the documenary ‘School Matters: Teacher-Pupil: A Good Working Relationship’. The channel takes a comprehensive look at two government initiatives, ‘Extended Schools’ and ‘Healthy Schools’ to consider what can work and how schools can get the most out of these programmes for their pupils. From 12th May, the channel moves to consider some of the most challenging issues facing pupils and teachers alike: drugs, alcohol and homophobia. Combining direct resource programmes with frank personal insights, the programmes make compelling viewing.

To make it even easier for teachers to watch Teachers TV, the channel is available on Freeview every day from 4.00-5.00pm. Following first broadcast, the majority of programmes are also available to view or download for free from www.teachers.tv where you can also find supporting resources and access the entire video library of over 2,000 programmes.

Please find below more information on the Teachers TV schedule, by themed week, including details of the programmes not to miss during each week.

w/c Monday 21 April: School Improvement – Getting Results (1)

w/c Monday 28 April: School Improvement – Getting Results (2)

w/c Monday 5 May: Extended Services Week

w/c Monday 12 May: Healthy Schools Week

w/c Monday 19 May: Drugs and Alcohol Week

w/c Monday 26 May: Tackling Homophobia Week